is that what america says and does matters as much or more as every other country in the world. what's happened to american power is just part of what's happened to power in the world everywhere. its become less concentrated and more defused. that makes it harder for america to get what it's seeking, but it doesn't affect the fact that america has the job of being a global leader, of sitting at the center of the system hopefully helping promote peace and prosperity, uh, generally. it just has to do, work a lot smarter and, uh, be less self absorbed, less self righteous and, uh, more self aware, more engaged. and what i think, to be effective, that we're gonna find is that as the world shrinks and becomes more interdependent, america can't stand above and apart. it, it has to be in there, uh, you know, with its, with its sleeves rolled up. >> richard gowen, you've indicated that you think u.s. power is in decline. >> i agree with a lot of what david just said, and i think two or three years ago before the financial crisis, i would have agreed 100%, but not anymore. i think the financial crisis h
